Hydraulic elevator



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L HQ VENN. v HYDRAULIC ELBVATOR.

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I. E. VENN. HYDRAULIC ELN/'Mom N0. 476,581. Patented June 7,1892.

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I, E.. VENDI- HYDRAULIC E-LBVATOR.

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I. H. VENN. HYDRAULIC BLEVATGB... No. 476,581. y Patented June '7, 1892.

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I. H. VENN. HYDRAULIG BLBVATOR.'

No. 476,581. Patented June 7,11892.

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UNiTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAO H. YENN, OF YONKERS, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE NATIONAL COMPANY, OF ILLINOIS.

HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,581, dated J' une 7, 1892.

Application filed July 25, 1889. Serial No. 318,652. (No model.) Patented in England November 5, 1889, No. 17,604; in Germany November 5,1889,N0. 55,799; in France November 5,1889,No. 201,725, and in Italy December 3l, 1889, No. 499.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ISAAC H. VENN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yonkers, county ot Yestchester, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in- Hydraulic Elevators, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same, the said improvements being embraced in British Letters Patent No. 17,601@ dated November 5, 188i); in German Letters Patent No. 55,799, dated November 5, 1889, and in French Letters Patent No. 201,725, dated November 5, 1889, and in Italian Letters Patent No. 499, dated December 31, 1889.

This invention relates to improvements in hydraulic elevators, its ob ject being to economize in the consumption of water in those elevators of this class which employ what is known as the circulating syst-em that is to say, those elevators in which during the descent of the car the water circulates from one side of the motor-piston to the other.

In the elevators of this class the water is admitted to one end of the motor-cylinder, herein for convenience called the induction end,7 to act upon the piston and raise the car, and when the car is to descend the water is allowed to circulate to the other end of the cylinder, herein t'or convenience called the eduction end,7 thereby permitting the car to descend by its own weight. By this system the water always acts at full pressure upon the motor-piston du ring the ascent of the car. It the car is carrying its maximum or substantiallyv its maximum load, the full pressure of the water upon the piston is required and no waste of power results. It", however, the car is empty or carries but a light load, the full pressure of the water upon the piston is not required to raise the car, and as a consequence the piston is driven against the water in the eduction end of the cylinder and exerts a pressure tending to force the water out ofthe cylinder, which force is entirely wasted, as it performs no useful function. From this it will be seen that the same amount of water is consumed and the same power expended at.

each ascent of the car regardless of whether the car is empty or heavily loaded.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide means by which when the car is ascending with no load or less than the maximum load the surplus power developed by the water acting upon the induction side of the motor-piston will be utilized to cause the circulation of a part of the water contained in the eduction end of the cylinder from that end ot the cylinder to the induction end, thereby causing the amount of water consumed ateach ascent of the car to conform approximatelyto the load,andthusecono mize in the consumption of water. Then the car is descending, the weight of the car and its load move the motor-piston along the cylinder and cause the water to circulate from the induction to the eduction end of the cylinder. `When the load is light, the pressure tending to force the water out of the induction end of the cylinder is comparatively small, but when the load upon the descending car is heavy the piston is moved along the cylinder with such power as to expel the water from the cylinder with considerable torce.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means by which the surpluspower developed by the descending car and its load will be stored up and subsequently utilized in raising the car and its load.

A full understanding of the invention can be best given by an illustration andadetailed description of an organized elevator mechanism embodying the same. Such description will therefore be given, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the motor-cylinder, valve, and circulating-pipe of a hydraulic elevator of the class referred to, showing the present invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line'2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3 of the same figure. Fig. 4 is an elevation of an elevator mechanism embodying the invention in a slightly-modified form. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view ot a portion of the same. Figs. 6

and 7 illustrate other modifications, which will be hereinafter explained.

Referring to said drawings, it is to be understood that A represents the motor-cylinder and B the circulating-pipe of a hydraulic elevator of the class referred to. The cylinder is provided with the usual piston, the rods C of which are connected to the hoisting cable or cables of the elevator inthe usual manner. The cylinder A is herein shown as arranged vertically; but this is not essential, as it may be arranged horizontally, if preferred.

The circulatingpipe B is provided with a valve D, which controls the induction of the water to the upper end of the cylinder, its circulation to the lower end, and its linal discharge in the usual manner. The valve D is in the case illustrated of the construction shown and described in the joint applicationV of myself and R. C. Smith, tiled February 2, 1889, Serial No. 298,479, although it may be of any oth er suitable form. The valve D may be operated in any of the ways common in this class of elevators.

lThe water for operating the elevator is supplied from a supply-pipe H, which in the case shown communicates with the chest of the valve D, and thence through the circulatingpipe B with the induction end of the cylinder A, so that a part of the circulating-pipe becomes, also, a part of the supplypipe. This, however, is not essential. If a valve of a dierent form is used, the supply-pipe may communicate directly with the cylinder, as is common.

The pipe B will for convenience be herein referred to as the supply and circulating pipe; but it is to be understood that an organization in which separate supply and circulating pipes are employed is in a broad sense the equivalent of that shown. The supply and circulating pipe is provided with two reversely-arranged nozzles E F, through the former of which the water must pass in entering the induction end of the cylinder and through the latter of which it must pass in circulating to the eduction end of the cylinder. The portion l) of the pipe B between the nozzles E F is reversely tapered, so as to cooperate with the nozzles to form injectors of the ordinary form. At the points occupied by the nozzles E F the pipe B is enlarged, so as to form chambers a c around the respective nozzles. In the organization shown in Fig. l the chamber d communicates through one or more openings (l with the circulating-pipe B between the valve D and the eduction end of the cylinder. The chamber c comm unicates by a pipe f with a tank G, into which the waste water is discharged through a pipe I, or the pipef may communicate with any other convenient source of water-supply. The tank Gr is of course provided with a suitable overliow-pipe, by which the surplus waste water can escape. It is of course to be understood that if separate supply and circulating pipes are employed the nozzle E will be in the supply-pipe and the nozzle F in the circulating- Ai e.

p In the organization of the invention illustrated in Figsl and 2 the nozzle E is located slightly below the portion of the pipe B .which connects the eduction end of the cylinder and the chest of the valve D, and the tank Gr is located slightly above the level of the nozzle F. By this means water enters the chambers a c under a slight head, which aids the inductive action of the injectors, and although in many cases this is the preferable organization, it is not essential.

Figs. 4 and 5 show an organization in which the nozzle E is located above the portion of the pipe B which connects the eduction end of the cylinder A and the casing of the valve D, the chamber a Vbeing connected to the pipe B by a pipe y, and in which the tank G is below the level of the nozzle F. In this case the water will not iiow to the chambers a c under any head, but will have to be drawn into the chambers by the inductive action of the inj ectors.

The operation of the organization as thus far described is as follows: then itis desired to cause the ear to ascend, the valve D is moved into position to open communication from the ed uction end of the cylinder to the waste-pipe I, and also (if the valve controls the supply-pipe, as is shown in the present case) open communication through the supply-pipe to allow the water to enter the induction end of the cylinder. Vater will then pass from the pipe H through the valve-chest and enter the pipe B, and passing upward through the nozzle Eenter the induction end of the cylinder and drive the piston downward, so as to raise the car, the water contained in the eduction end of the cylinder beneath the piston being at the same time allowed to iiow outward to the main discharge-pipe I.

If the car is carrying the maximum or substantially the maximum load, the full pressure of the water upon the piston will be required to raise the car, and asa consequence no pressure will be developed upon the water in the eduction end of the cylinder, which will simply iiow out as the piston descends. If, on the other hand, the load is light or comparatively light, the full pressure of the water upon the piston will not be required to raise the car, and asaconsequence the piston will tend to develop a greater speed, thereby exert-ing a pressure upon the water beneath it, tending to force the same out of the cylinder. The increased speed of the piston will cause the water to flow through the pipe B more rapidly, so that as the incoming water is forced through the contracted opening of the nozzle E it will acquire a considerable velocity, so as to create an inductive action the same as in the ordinary injector, which will cause more or less of the water from the chamber a to enter the pipe B around the nozzle and be carried into the IOO IIO

induction end of the cylinder. By this means a portion of the water in the eduction end of the cylinder is circulated back and restored to the induction end of the cylinder, thereby economizing in the consumption of water and proportionately reducing the expense ot' operating the elevator.

iVhen it is desired to cause the car to descend, the valve D is shifted so as to open communication through the pipe B between the induction and eduction ends ot the cylinder. Both ends of the cylinder will then be in communication with the supply-pipe H, and as a consequence the pressure upon the opposite sides of the piston will be equal and the car will descend by its own weight, the water in the induction end of the cylinder passing through the circulating-pipe and entering the eduction end of the cylinder as the piston ascends.

iVhen the car is descending with no load or only a light load, the piston in the cylinder will not be moved upward with sufiicient i'orce to drive the water out ot the induction end ot" the cylinder under much pressure, and it will consequently circulate gently from the induction to the eduction end of the cylinder. lVhen, however, the descending car is heavily loaded, the power developed by the load will drive the water out ot' the induction end of the cylinder with great force, so that it will issue fromthe nozzle F with great velocity, and will thus act inductively to draw in a quantity of water 'from the tank G, which will be added to the volume available for use in raising the car. By this means the power developed by the descending load is stored up for future use.

ln order to prevent the incoming water from entering the chamber d and passing through the openings d to the waste-pipe when the load is so heavy or the iiow of the water through the nozzle E is so slow that there is no inductive action developed by the in ject-or, and also to prevent the water from escaping during circulation, the openings d are provided with check-valves g, which permit the water to tiow from the eduction end of the cylinder to the chamber a, but prevent it from flowing in the opposite direction. In order to prevent the incoming water from passing through the pipef to the tank Gand also to prevent the circulating water from escaping in the same manner when the load upon the car is light, the pipe f is provided with a checkvalve 7L, arranged similarly to the valves g.

The nozzles E F may and preferably will be adjustable, so that the space through which the water is drawn by the inductive action of the injectors can be varied as different conditions may require. This maybe ctected in a variety of ways.

One convenient form of mechanism for adjusting the nozzles is illustrated in Fig. l in connection with the nozzle E. For this purpose the nozzle is provided upon its side with a rack lo, which is engaged by a small pinion Z, mounted upon a shaft, which extends through a stuftingbox and is provided with a handle (not shown) by which it can be conveniently operated. The nozzle F may of course be provided with a similar apparatus.

lVhere both of the nozzles E F are, as illustrated in the present case, located in the same pipe, which serves both as a supply and a circulating pipe for the motor-cylinder, it is desirable that means should be provided by which the entire volume of water when entering the induction end of the cylinder will not be required to pass through the nozzle E and by which the entire volume of water when circulating will not be required to pass through the nozzle F. This is desirable because the passage of the water through the contracted openings of thc two nozzles throttles it more or less and subjects it to an unnecessary amount ot friction. To avoid this, each of the injectors may be provided with a by-pass communicating, respectively, with the chambers a c and with the pipe B below and above the respective injectors. The by-passes e are provided with reversely-arranged check-valves 5, which act to compel the water when entering the induction end of the cylinder to pass through the nozzle E, but permit it to pass around the nozzle F. During the circulation of the water the operation is reversed and the water is compelled to pass through the nozzle F, while a part of it is permitted to pass around the nozzle E.

In some cases it is desirable to provide means for automatically regulating the flow of the water into the induction end of the cylinder to conform to the pressure of the water and the load to be raised, so that as the pressure upon the water beneath the piston increases the iiow of water into the induction end of the cylinder will be diminished, and vice versa. An organization by which this may be accomplished is also illustrated in Fig. l. For this purpose the nozzle E is provided with a cone-shaped valve O, which is located within the nozzle, and is so arranged that as it is raised and lowered it contracts and enlarges the opening for the passage of the water through said nozzle, thus diminishing and increasing the supplyto the induction end of the cylinder. The valve O is supported by arms 1J, which project from a 1ccl;shatt q, having an arm r, which is pivotally connected to the rod s of a piston or diaphragm 15, which is subjected to the pressure of the water in the eduction end of the cylinder, and is so arranged that as the pressure in the eduction end of thc cylinder increases it will, through the connect-ions which have just been described, move the valve O, so as to reduce the flow of water to the induction end of the cylinder, and vice versa. The rod s of the piston 1f is also connected to a bellcrank lever fm, which is fulcrumed at n, and is provided with an adjustable weight w, by which the piston t is prevented from being IOO IIO

moved to any considerable extent untila certain predetermined pressure is obtained in the eduction end of the cylinder. A spring may of course be used in place of the weight fw for this purpose. lVhere the main valve D is of the character herein shown, the supply-pipe H will of course communicate drectly with the valve-chest, as shown; but where other forms are employed the supplypipe may connect with the circulating-pipe at any point between the main valve and the nozzle E.

In operating elevators equipped with the injector-nozzles it may sometimes happen, when the load to be raised very nearly equals the hoisting capacity of the elevator or when the car is to descend Without any load and is consequently almost held in equilibrium by the counterbalancing-weights, that it will be desirable to allow the water or at least a part ot' it to enter the induction end of the cylinder or to circulate from the induction to the eduction end of the cylinder without being subjected to even the slight retardation due to passing through one of the injector-nozzles E F. Figs. 6 and 7 show organizations in which this is accomplished in two dilterent ways.

In the organization shown in Fig. G the pipe B is provided with a by-pass K, which passes around both of the injector-nozzles E F, and thus affords a channel through which the water or a part ot` the water can enter the induction end of the cylinder without passing through the nozzle E and by which, also, the water or a part of it can circulate from the induction to the eduction end of the cylinder without passing through the nozzle F. As shown in Fig. G, the by-pass K is controlled by a valve e, the rod of which is forked and provided with a pin which passes through a cam-groove fr, formed in the rod of the main valve D. The cam :r is so shaped that so long as only a medium or ordinary range of movement is given to the valve D the valve e will remain in its closed position and prevent any dow of water through the by-pass K. So long as the valve e remains closed the operation ot the apparatus will be the same as already described. Vhen, however, the load upon the car is almost equal to the capacity of the elevator, the valve D will be moved upward beyond the usual limit, so as to be opened toits full extent, and the cam :t is so shaped that when this takes place it will operate to open the valve e and allow the water or a part of the water to iiow through the by-pass and enter the induction end of the cylinder without passing through the nozzle E. When the car is to descend without any load, the main valve will be moved beyond the usual limit of its movement in the reverse direction, and the cam a: is so shaped that this will also open the valve e and allow a pai-tot thewater to circulate without passing through the nozzle F.

In the organization shown in Fig. '7 the same results are accomplished in a slightly-difterent manner. In this case one end of the bypass K, instead of communicating directly with the supply and circulating pipe B, communicates with the chest ot' the valve D and is controlled by a valve t, which is carried upon the rod of the main valve. The valve is so formed that as long as the main valve is not moved beyond the range of its usual movement the entrance to the by-pass remains closed. If, however, the main valve is moved beyond the limit ot' its usual movement in either direction, the opening to the by-pass K will be uncovered and a part ot the water will flow through the by-pass with the effect before stated.

It is of course to be understood that one of the injectors may be omitted it' in any case it should not be desired to utilize the surplus power developed when the car is moving in one direction.

What I claim isl. The combination, with the cylinder, piston, and supply and circulating pipe orpipes of a hydraulic elevator, of au injector through which the water passes in entering the induction end of the cylinderand which communicates with the eduction end of said cylinder through a passage additional to the circulating-passage between the induction and eduction ends of the cylinder, whereby the inductive action ot the water passing through the injector acts to circulate waterfrom the eduction to the induction end ot` said cylinder, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the cylinder, piston, and supply and circulating pipe orpipes of a hydraulic elevator, of an injector through which the water passes in entering the induction end of the cylinder and which communicates with the eduction end of said cylinder through a passage additional to the circulating-passage between the induction and eduction ends of the cylinder, whereby the inductive action ot the water passing through the injector acts to circulate water from the eduction to the induction end of said cylinder, and a check-valve controlling said additional passage, substantially as described.

3. The combination,with the main cylinder, piston, and circulating-pipe of a hydraulic elevator, of an injector located in said circulating-pipe and communicating with an out side supply of water, whereby the inductive action of the circulating water operates to draw in an additional supply of water, substantially as described.

4. The combination,with the main cylinder, piston, and circulating-pipe ot a hydraulic elevator, of an injector located in said circulating-pipe and communicating through a check-valve with an outside supply of water, whereby the inductive action ot' the circulating water operates to draw in an additional supply of water, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the cylinder, piston, and supply and circulating pipe or pipes of a hydraulic elevator, of an injector through IIO which the water passes in enteringthe induction end of the cylinder and which also communicates with the eduction end of the cylinder, .and a second injector through which the water passes in circulating and which communicates with an outside supply of water, whereby the inductive action of the water passing through said respective injectors operates to circulate water from the eduction to the induction end of said cylinder and to draw in an additionalsupply of water, substantially as described.

G. The combination, with the cylinder, piston, and supply and circulating pipe or pipes of a hydraulic elevator, of an injector' through which the water passes in entering the ind uction end of the cylinder and which also communicates through a check-valve with the eduction end ot the cylinder, and a second injector through which the water passes in circulating and which communicates through a check-valve with an outside supply of water, whereby the inductive action of the water passing through said respective injectors opcrates to circulate water from the eduction to the induction end of said cylinder and to draw in an additional supply of water, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the cylinder, pist0n, and supply and circulating pipe of a hydraulic elevator, of reversely-arranged injectors located in said pipe and communicating, respectively, with the eduction end of said cylinder and with an outside supply, whereby the inductive action of the water entering the induction end of said cylinder operates to circulate water from the eduction to the induction end of the cylinder and whereby the inductive action of the water in circulating operates to draw in an additional supply of water, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the cylinder, piston, and supply and circulating pipe of a hydraulic elevator, of reversely-arranged injectors located in said pipe and communicating,

respectively, with the eduction end of the cylinder and with an outside supply, whereby the inductive action of the water entering the induction end of the cylinder operates to circulate water from the eduction to the induction end of the cylinder and whereby the inductive action of the water in circulating operates to draw in an additional supply of water, and by-passes having reversely arranged check-valves affording communication around said injectors, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the cylinder, piston, and supply and circulating pipe or pipes of a hydraulic elevator, of an injector through which the water passes in entering the induction end of the cylinder and which also communicates with a supply of water under less pressure than the water entering the cylinder, and a valve O, controlling the iiow of water through the induction-nozzle and controlled by the pressure in the eduction end of the cylinder, substantially as described.

lO. The combination, with the cylinder, piston, supply-pipe, and main valve of a hydraulic elevator, of an injector located lin said pipe, a by pass affording communication around said injector, and a valve controlling said by-pass and operated in conj unction with the main valve, substantially as described.

1l. The combination, with the cylinder, piston, circulating-pipe, and main valve of a hydraulic elevator, of an injector located in said pipe, a by-pass affording communication Y around said injector, and a valve controlling said by-pass and operated in conjunction with the main valve, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC H. VENN.

Witnesses:

O. B. BARING, JAMES S, FITCH, 

